Worxbee vs. Athena: Which Is Right For You?
When it comes to executive support, finding the right level of assistance is key. Some professionals need a Virtual Assistant (VA) for general administrative help, while others require a Virtual Executive Assistant (VEA) with the experience and skills to manage high-level business operations. The distinction between the two can make all the difference in how effectively you scale your workload and streamline your day-to-day responsibilities.
At Worxbee, we are dedicated to helping you find the best solution for your executive support needs—even if that means recommending a service other than our own. In this spirit of transparency, we’re providing a detailed comparison between Worxbee and Athena, two providers with distinct approaches to virtual support.
Article Contents:
Services Offered: Worxbee vs. Athena
Assistant Qualifications: Worxbee vs. Athena
Pairing Process: Worxbee vs. Athena
Pricing Structure: Worxbee vs. Athena
Customization & Flexibility: Worxbee vs. Athena
Support & Client Service: Worxbee vs. Athena
Which is Best for You? Worxbee vs. Athena
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Services Offered: Worxbee vs. Athena
When considering virtual administrative support, it’s essential to choose a service that aligns with your specific needs. Below, we break down the services offered by each.
Worxbee’s Service Offerings:
Worxbee provides 100% US-based Virtual Executive Assistants who deliver strategic and high-level administrative support tailored for executives, founders, and senior leaders. Their model goes beyond general administrative tasks, focusing on executive-level partnership on a part-time or fractional basis.
Worxbee’s flexible support structure allows for customized solutions that serve both individual executives and entire leadership teams, ensuring that each professional receives personalized support that aligns with their work style and priorities. This model is best suited for those looking for an experienced Executive Assistant who can operate with autonomy, strategic foresight, and a proactive approach to executive support.
Athena’s Service Offerings:
Athena provides Virtual Assistant services with an emphasis on task-based and operational support. Their Assistants are offshore-based and assist professionals with administrative and personal task management on a broader scale.
Athena’s model is designed for professionals seeking full-time, general administrative support at a more affordable rate. Their Assistants are trained to handle a wide range of administrative tasks within a structured delegation system that prioritizes task execution rather than executive-level strategic partnership.
Assistant Qualifications: Worxbee vs. Athena
The effectiveness of a virtual support service depends largely on the qualifications, experience, and training of its Assistants. Below is a comparison of how each company evaluates and prepares its Assistants for executive support.
Worxbee’s Executive Assistant Qualifications:
Focused Expertise in Executive Assistance: Worxbee exclusively provides Executive Assistants who have extensive experience supporting C-suite executives and senior leaders. This specialization ensures that every Executive Assistant is equipped to handle the complex, high-level demands of executive support.
Comprehensive Vetting Process: Worxbee's hiring process is designed to identify top-tier Executive Assistant talent, accepting only the top 1% of applicants after an extensive multi-stage evaluation. Candidates undergo:
Application screening and behavioral interviews
Skills assessments for emotional and cognitive skills and operational proficiency
Business DNA® assessment to evaluate strengths and work styles
In-depth reference checks require direct feedback from an executive they supported ensuring proven experience in high-level support roles
Thorough background checks
100% U.S.-Based Executive Assistants: All Worxbee Executive Assistants are based in the U.S., which can be a crucial factor for companies prioritizing domestic talent for compatibility with business hours and cultural alignment.
Athena’s Assistant Qualifications:
Focus on Potential Over Experience: Athena’s model focuses on identifying high-potential candidates, even if they do not have prior experience. Their Assistants learn on the job rather than entering the role with extensive prior experience in executive support.
Selective Hiring Process: Athena receives nearly 1,000 Assistant applications daily and states that they accept only the top 1% of candidates after a multi-step screening process, which includes:
Personality and cognitive tests
English proficiency tests
Soft skills assessment
Training Academy: Athena provides a four-week training program for their Assistants along with ongoing mentorship. While this ensures a baseline level of competency, their Assistants may require additional time to gain hands-on experience.
Offshore-Based Assistants: Athena’s Assistants are offshore-based, but they work on a schedule aligned with client needs, ensuring availability within the requested time zone. While this can help mitigate time zone differences, executives who prefer assistants with deep familiarity with U.S. business culture and corporate operations may want to consider this factor when making a decision.
Pairing Process: Worxbee vs. Athena
The process of being matched with an Assistant or Executive Assistant varies by provider, with some companies focusing on personalized selection and others prioritizing efficiency and availability. Whether you prefer a tailored approach or a streamlined assignment process, understanding how each company pairs clients with support can help you determine the best fit for your needs.
Worxbee’s Proprietary TrueFit Pairing Process:
Worxbee has developed the TrueFit system, meticulously designed to do more than just find you an Executive Assistant. This proprietary process ensures a match that aligns seamlessly with your personality and work style. Here’s how Worxbee carefully tailors this experience:
Onboarding: The process begins with a detailed onboarding call to thoroughly understand your specific support needs.
Assessment: Utilizing the Business DNA® assessment, Worxbee analyzes your personality, and work style to find an Executive Assistant who is not just skilled but a TrueFit for you.
Matching: Our expert team takes the time to understand each client’s needs, personality, and work style to hand-select two or more ideal candidates. While technology supports our process, every match is personally guided by our team, ensuring a truly personalized experience.
Interviews: You’ll interview several handpicked Executive Assistants, each one already vetted as a TrueFit, giving you the choice to choose your favorite among a number of options.
Kickoff Call: A dedicated Client Success Manager facilitates a kickoff meeting between you and your new Executive Assistant, ensuring a smooth transition and setting the foundation for a successful partnership.
Worxbee Pairing Timeframe: Worxbee can complete their proven process in as little as one week, with most pairings being finalized within two weeks, offering both thoroughness and efficiency.
Athena’s Assignment Process:
Athena’s approach to pairing is less customized and follows a queue-based assignment model. Clients begin with a Discovery Call to discuss their administrative support needs, after which they must complete 2-5 hours of onboarding and delegation coaching. Once these steps are completed, clients are assigned an Assistant.
Athena’s model prioritizes efficiency and standardized matching, meaning clients do not personally select their Assistant. Instead, Assistants are assigned based on availability rather than a tailored compatibility process.
Athena Assignment Timeframe: The assignment process typically takes about two weeks after the Discovery Call, though the initial queue placement may extend this timeline by a few days to several weeks, depending on demand and Assistant availability.
Pricing Structure: Worxbee vs. Athena
Understanding the pricing structure and the flexibility of service plans is essential for businesses when choosing a service provider. Here’s a detailed comparison of how Worxbee and Athena structure their pricing and what each service includes:
Worxbee’s Pricing:
Hourly Rates: Worxbee offers a flat rate of $69 per hour. Discounts are available for non-profit organizations and annual agreements.
Transparency: No onboarding fees or hidden costs are associated with Worxbee’s services.
Contract Terms: Agreements start with a three-month initial commitment before transitioning to month-to-month or renewing into a longer term commitment. A 45-day notice is required for cancellation to ensure a seamless transition, allowing time to wrap up projects and organize key details so nothing falls through the cracks.
TrueFit Guarantee: Worxbee’s unique TrueFit Guarantee allows clients to opt-out of starting service if they are not satisfied with their Executive Assistant interviews, with no obligations. Additionally, if your business needs evolve, Worxbee promises to find a new Executive Assistant who fits your updated requirements at no extra cost, ensuring you always have the best match for your needs.
Athena’s Pricing:
Flat Monthly Rate: Athena offers a full-time, dedicated Virtual Assistant for $3,000 per month. This includes 40 hours per week of support, making it a fixed-cost option for those who need consistent full-time assistance.
Contract Terms: Athena has an initial three-month contract, after which clients may cancel with 30-day notice.
Issue Resolution: Athena’s Client Success Operations Manager will work with clients to address concerns or performance issues. If no improvement is made they will assign you a different Assistant.
Customization & Flexibility: Worxbee vs. Athena
Here’s a look at how Worxbee and Athena handle customization and flexibility:
Worxbee’s Customization and Flexibility:
Scaling Support: After an initial 3-month agreement period, Worxbee offers their clients the flexibility to scale support up or down as they become more acquainted with their Executive Assistant. New clients typically start at the lower end of the range of support hours they may need with the option to adjust hours when the timing is right for them.
Flexible, Hourly-Based Model: Clients pay only for the monthly support hours they need, making it an efficient option for fractional or part-time support. Worxbee’s model ensures you’re not paying for unnecessary time, recognizing that many full-time employees aren’t fully utilized for 40 hours and most executives don’t require that level of support.
Tailored Solutions: Worxbee prides itself on creating customized solutions tailored to individual and team needs. This includes the option to develop unique packages for teams that require collective support from multiple EAs, thus addressing more complex or expansive business requirements.
Athena’s Customization and Flexibility:
Fixed Full-Time Plan: Athena provides a single, full-time Assistant plan with 40 hours per week of dedicated support. Athena’s model is designed for those who need a full-time Assistant with constant availability.
Limited Flexibility in Scaling Support: Because Athena only offers a full-time plan, there is no option to reduce hours or switch to a part-time arrangement. Clients who need less than 40 hours per week may end up paying for unused time.
Support & Client Service: Worxbee vs. Athena
Effective support and client service are pivotal in ensuring a smooth and productive experience with a service provider. Here’s how Worxbee and Athena approach client support:
Worxbee’s Client Support:
Dedicated Client Success Manager: Each Worxbee client is assigned a dedicated Client Success Manager who acts as a single point of contact. They are personally invested in your success, providing proactive support, anticipating needs, and ensuring a seamless, optimized experience tailored to your executive support requirements.
Comprehensive Onboarding and Support: The onboarding process at Worxbee includes a guided kick-off call and Worxbee’s proprietary Admin Roadmap®, which provides exclusive tools and resources designed to optimize the working relationship. Regular check-ins are personalized to each client’s preferences—whether via email or calls, at the cadence, day, and time that best fits their schedule—ensuring services remain aligned with their evolving needs.
Continuous Client Guidance: Your Client Success Manager at Worxbee provides ongoing guidance to enhance the relationship between you and your Executive Assistant. This sustained support includes strategy sessions to evaluate performance and set new goals, adaptive support as your business needs change, and proactive support to quickly resolve any issues.
Athena’s Client Support:
Multiple Points of Contact: Athena’s client support structure involves several team members, rather than a single dedicated point of contact. Key roles include:
Delegation Expert – Guides clients through the Discovery Call
Client Partnership Manager – Acts as the client’s main advocate throughout their membership, assisting with general service-related concerns.
Assistant’s Manager – Oversees the performance of the assigned VA and conducts monthly check-ins with the client.
Onboarding Support: Clients participate in 2-5 hours of onboarding and delegation coaching calls to set up workflows and prepare for the partnership.
Client Service: Athena’s model focuses on structured check-ins and role-specific support, ensuring clients receive guidance at different stages.
Which is Best For You? - Worxbee vs. Athena
When selecting a virtual support service, the decision between Worxbee and Athena comes down to the level of support required and how deeply integrated that support needs to be within your executive workflow.
Worxbee is best suited for executives and senior leaders who need high-level strategic support from an experienced Executive Assistant. With its proprietary TrueFit system, Worxbee ensures each Executive Assistant is not only highly skilled but also a strong personality and work style match, creating a sustainable, long-term partnership. The flexible, hourly-based model allows for tailored support, making it a strong choice for those who need fractional or part-time executive assistance without committing to a full-time hire.
Athena provides full-time, offshore Virtual Assistants for professionals looking for general administrative support. Their fixed 40-hour-per-week model works well for clients who need consistent availability at a flat monthly rate. Instead of a tailored matching process, VAs are assigned based on availability, offering a standardized approach to administrative support.
Key Considerations:
Specialized Executive Support: Choose Worxbee if you need an experienced Executive Assistant who integrates deeply into your leadership structure and provides strategic, high-level support.
Full-Time Assistance: Opt for Athena if you need a general Assistant for full-time support with a fixed-cost model.
Customization & Flexibility: Worxbee offers fractional and scalable support, allowing clients to adjust hours as needed, while Athena provides a fixed 40-hour Assistant with no option to scale down.
Personalized vs. Standardized Pairing: Worxbee’s TrueFit process allows for client interviews and ensures personality and work style based matching, while Athena assigns Assistants based on availability without client selection.
Geographic Considerations: Worxbee’s VEAs are 100% U.S.-based, ensuring cultural and business alignment, whereas Athena’s VAs are offshore-based but work within the client’s preferred schedule.
Both Worxbee and Athena provide valuable virtual support, but the best choice depends on your executive needs, service expectations, and preferred support structure.
Assess your primary business needs, the level of strategic vs. task-based support, and the importance of flexibility when deciding between Worxbee and Athena—a decision that can directly impact your efficiency, productivity, and overall business success.
Ready to Transform Your Executive Support?
Schedule your free consultation today to learn how a Worxbee Virtual Executive Assistant can elevate your daily operations and help you achieve your strategic goals.
